The contribution reports on the event Public Procurement Days, organised by the Management Agency on 2 and 3 October 2025 in Portorož, Slovenia. Preparing high-quality public procurement processes that effectively incorporate local, organic and high-quality food is fundamental to improving the quality of meals in public institutions. Many good practices already exist within these institutions, but it is essential to transfer such practices and knowledge to a systemic level. Truly effective and responsible public procurement requires interdisciplinary cooperation—among lawyers, public contracting authorities, economists, food experts, and producers’ representatives. We need solutions that allow the legislative framework to support strategic quality objectives without imposing administrative barriers. Therefore, it is crucial to find joint solutions across all areas of public procurement that will enable more effective and responsible outcomes. In this context, the author has invited readers to the next, 26th edition of the Public Procurement Days conference, to be held on 9 and 10 April 2026 at the Hotel Slovenia Congress Centre in Portorož, Slovenia.
Key words: food, public procurement, Public Procurement Days, congress, quality, short supply chains.